Types of inflorescence are explained

1. Presenter: Ishtiaq Ahmad
Govt. Degree College Tangi Charsadda

2. Inflorescence
• The arrangement of flowers on floral axis.
• Floral axis is called peduncle.
• Types:
1. Racemose
2. Cymose
3. Special type

3. 1. Racemose inflorescence:
• In this type of inflorescence the main axis
continues its growth until the last flower is
formed at its apex.
• The flowers are developed in acropetal
succession i.e., oldest flowers in lower
position and youngest flowers are at apex of
the floral axis.

6. 2. Cymose inflorescence
• In this type of inflorescence, the main axis
soon ends in a flower.
• One, two or more lateral branches develop
below the terminal flowers, each ending in a
flower and producing daughter axes.
• Flowers develop in basipetal succession

10. 3. Special type of inflorescence
• Some time daughter axes produced in
inflorescence are so suppressed, that it
become difficult to conclude which one is
older or younger.
• Such type of inflorescences are assigned as
special type.

14. 1. Types of Racemose Inflorescence
a. Simple raceme: Main axis elongated. Flower
pedicellate e.g. Brassica
• Compound raceme/panicle: e.g. Delphinium
spp.

18. b. Spike: the main axis elongated bearing sessile
flowers e.g. Verbena, Bottle brush
• Compound spike e.g. wheat, barley

22. Verbena

24. c. Corymb: Main axis comparatively short,
flowers pedicillate. Pedicels of older flowers
are longer than those of younger ones, so
that all flowers lie at the same level e.g. Iberis
• Compund corymb e.g. cauliflower

28. Achillea filipendulina

29. d. Catkin: It is pendulous spike of unisexual
flower e.g. Mullberry

32. e. Spadix: It is a branched or unbranched thick,
fleshy spike enclosed in one or more bracts
called spathe e.g. In banana, palm

37. f. Umbel: All the flowers arise from the apex of
floral axis at one level, such that older flower
have longer pedicels at periphery, younger
flowers have short pedicels at centre. E.g.
Umbelliferae.
• Compound umbel: e.g. coriander, carrot

39. Asclepias

42. g. Capitulum: Floral axis is reduced to concave or
convex flate disc called receptacle bearing
small flowers called florets. Younger florets are
present at center while older at periphery. E.g.
sunflower
• Compound capitulum e.g. Echinops

47. Echinops

49. 2. Types of cymose inflorescene
• 1. Monochasial/Uniparous cyme: Floral axis
ends in a flower. One daughter axis arise from
the parent and ends in a flower and so on e.g.
Freesia, Begonia etc.

52. Phycelia purshii (Helicoid/bostryx)

53. Heliotropium sp. (scorpoid/cincinnus)

54. • 2. Dichasial cyme/biparous cyme: Floral axis
ends in a flower. Two daughter axes arise from
the parent and ends in a flower and so on. E.g.
Stellaria spp., Ipomea spp.

57. • 3. Polychasial/Multiparous cyme: Floral axis
ends in a flower. Many daughter axes arise
from the parent and ends in a flower and so
on. E.g. Calotropis. Euphorbia milli etc.

61. 3. Special types
1. Hypanthodium: the receptacle grows
upwards along its margins and forms a
hollow pear shaped structure, with an apical
opening guarded by scales.
• Unisexual flowers develop on the inner
surface of the hollow receptacle. E.g. Ficus
religiosa, Ficus bengalensis, Ficus carica etc.

64. 2. Cyathium:
• An inflorescence consisting of a small cuplike
structure enclosing a female flower and
several male flowers, characteristic of plants
in the genus Euphorbia.

67. 3. Verticellastor:
• In this type of inflorescence leaves are
arranged in opposite manner on stem. From
the axil of each leaf inflorescence develop.
From the main axis, lateral axis arises , on
which flower are found. E.g. Ocimum

71. • Scapigerous or Umbellate Cymose Head: In
onion, the flowers are borne at the end of
long leafless stalk (the scape) arises in the
midst of the radicle leaves.
• The flowers are arranged in many helicoid
cymose clusters. The inflorescence appears
like an umbel, they are also called umbellate
cymose head.